A marathon is the ultimate dream for many runners. People who have been
running for years and some that have never run a day in their life love
the idea of finishing a marathon. There seems to be something magical
about the concept of a marathon, almost as if it seems super-human to
compete in one or even to complete one.

Have you been pondering
the idea of running a marathon for fun or for competition? If so, you
must know that it takes months of hard and consistent preparation before
the dream can become a reality because a marathon is no walk in the
park.

One of the best strategies for making the dream of a
marathon possible for you is to find a partner. Talk to your friends and
find someone who is willing to begin the journey of marathon training
with you. Figure out a way to mesh your schedules so that you can train
together, at least on your long runs. You've heard it said that 'no man
is an island,' and that concept it certainly true when it comes to
preparing for your first marathon. Most people last a few weeks at best
when they have no one to train with and no one to hold them accountable
as the training schedule becomes more intense.

Once you've found the perfect marathon partner you should also take time
to research the best training schedule for your time, needs and running
goals. Getting on a specific schedule for marathon training will
prevent you from overworking yourself or underworking yourself. It is no
easy thing to get your body in shape for a twenty-six mile run, so make
it a priority to find a schedule and then stick to it.

Talk to
your physician about your dream of running a marathon. It is never a bad
idea to check with a healthcare professional for any warnings or
advice. See if your physician has any suggestions for ways to supplement
your training with adjustments to your eating or sleeping habits.
Proper eating and sleeping will only benefit the physical training you
do to prepare for the marathon.

Running a marathon is something
that many people dream about but far fewer people actually accomplish
it. With some careful planning and a lot of dedication you can be one of
the few that makes the dream of running a marathon a reality.